Titans Softball Hits the Road Once More for 2007 Palm Springs Classic

Feb. 23, 2007

FULLERTON, CA -
After a difficult loss to the top-ranked team in the nation in its 2007 home opener, the Cal State Fullerton softball team (5-6 overall) hits the road for its final road tournament of the year at the Palm Springs Classic hosted by Oregon State at the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, Calif.

A LOOK AT THE FIELD: This weekend's tournament features nine of this week's top 25 teams - including four of the top 10 - and two more receiving votes. The field also welcomes six of the eight participants in last year's Women's College World Series, including runner-up Northwestern.

IN THE POLLS: Fullerton continued to receive votes (2) in this weeks ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll (15). None of the Titans' opponents this weekend are ranked.

TITANS IN PALM SPRINGS: This season will mark the fourth-straight appearance for Cal State Fullerton at the Palm Springs Classic as the Titans have posted a 6-8 overall record in their three previous trips. Last season, Fullerton went 3-2 at the Palm Springs Classic, posting wins over Illinois-Chicago and Oklahoma State on the first two days before downing No. 8 Texas A&M on the tournament's final day.

MEET US IN PALM SPRINGS: This weekend the Titans will meet Illinois-Chicago and Long Island for the second time in their respective all-time series' - with each of the previous meetings between the schools coming at the Palm Springs Classic. Fullerton defeated UIC last season by the count of 9-7 while the Titans downed the Blackbirds, 14-0, at the 2005 tournament.

MEET US IN PALM SPRINGS: This weekend the Titans will meet Illinois-Chicago and Long Island for the second time in their respective all-time series' - with each of the previous meetings between the schools coming at the Palm Springs Classic. Fullerton defeated UIC last season by the count of 9-7 while the Titans downed the Blackbirds, 14-0, at the 2005 tournament.

A LOOK BACK AT TENNESSEE: Tennessee senior left-hander Monica Abbott allowed just one hit and struck out 14 on the night as the Lady Vols handed host Cal State Fullerton an 8-0 defeat in five innings on Wednesday night in front of 635 fans at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif.

Abbott (8-0) struck out the first 11 batters she faced until Fullerton's Kiki Munoz grounded out to third to end the fourth inning. The Titans' lone hit came with one out in the fifth as senior Ashley Van Boxmeer lined a hard shot through the hole on the left side for Cal State Fullerton's lone base runner on the night.

The Lady Vols got the scoring started in the second as Tonya Callahan slugged her third home run of the season over the fence in left centerfield for the 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the fourth when a crucial throwing error keyed a seven-run inning for Tennessee that put the game out of reach.

After a lead-off single by Tiffany Huff, Alexia Clay sacrificed pinch-runner Lillian Hammond into scoring position and was followed by a walk to Callahan to put runners on first and second with one out.

That brought up Jennifer Griffin, who weakly grounded the ball back to the circle, but Candice Baker's throw to try and erase Hammond at third was high, tipping off the glove of Yvette Fernandez and rolling to the wall, allowing Hammond to scamper home for the 2-0 lead.

That opened the floodgates for the Lady Vols as Erinn Webb followed with a two-run single to center to make it 4-0. After a fly ball by Nicole Kajitani for what would have been the third out, pinch-hitter Shannon Doepking and India Chiles added RBI singles and Huff added a two-run double to left to cap the scoring.